3D Printing Cost Calculator

The three main cost components

Material cost is usually the largest single component for desktop FDM printing. Filament is priced per kilogram, so cost scales directly with how many grams the slicer estimates for the print. Most slicers report filament weight after slicing; this is the value to enter.

Energy cost is relatively small for typical hobby printing — a 200W printer running for four hours uses 0.8 kWh, which at US average rates of about $0.15/kWh costs roughly $0.12. For longer prints or high-power printers, energy becomes more significant.

Maintenance and depreciation accounts for the cost of the printer spread across its useful life, plus wear items like nozzles, build plates, and lubricants. A simple estimate is $0.05–$0.25 per hour depending on the printer and how heavily it is used.

Typical material costs by filament type

PLA is the cheapest and most widely used FDM filament, typically $15–$30 per kilogram. PETG and ABS run $20–$35/kg. Engineering filaments such as ASA, nylon, and carbon-fibre composites range from $40 to $150/kg or more. Resin for SLA/MSLA printers is typically $25–$80 per litre, with a different weight-to-volume ratio than FDM filament.